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June 2019
'Nothing' technology creates less expensive thin-film solar cells
Solar cells made from elements in the third and fifth columns of the periodic table have been shown to be highly efficient at converting sunlight into energy, but their high costs pose a drawback and limited their use to niche applications.
May 2019
$3M Solar Prize Round 2 Plans to Drive Innovation in U.S. Solar Manufacturing
The Solar Prize program supports entrepreneurs as they develop transformative technology ideas into concepts and then into early-stage prototypes ready for industry testing.
NREL's Matthew Beard Honored by Royal Society of Chemistry
The society singled Beard out specifically for his "outstanding contributions to controlling ultra-fast carrier dynamics in nanostructures and perovskite semiconductors."
April 2019
Your Renewable Energy Technology is Growing Old--What's Next?
While hundreds of millions of tons of trash continue to be dumped into American landfills annually, a growing percentage has been diverted to recycling centers since the first Earth Day in 1970. But these centers aren't set up for renewable energy technologies.
Perovskite Breakthrough Shows Importance of Added Chemical Compound in Boosting Efficiency
Researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory report making a significant breakthrough by producing a tandem perovskite solar cell that pushes the technology closer to its maximum efficiency.
How NREL Pushed the Limits of Accuracy in PV Performance Measurements
NREL's cell and module performance recently developed a new procedure for measuring the power of commercial crystalline-silicon photovoltaic modules that reduces the uncertainty in module maximum power.
Beneath Solar Panels, the Seeds of Opportunity Sprout
Low-impact development of solar installations can shelter vegetation and boost energy production, creating a win-win-win for food, water, and renewable energy.
March 2019
NREL Unveils Look at Most Efficient Solar Modules
The initial Champion Module Efficiencies chart contains 73 data points, dating to 1988, and broken out into 19 different technologies.
February 2019
News Release: NREL Emerging Markets Day Announces 2019 Presenting Start-up Companies
On May 8, investors, start-up companies, and industry leaders from around the world will convene in Denver, Colo., for the third Emerging Markets Day, a forum to discuss the most promising cleantech solutions to the pressing energy challenges faced by emerging economies.
Little Uncertainty Remains at NREL, Thanks to Improvements in PV Performance Measurement
NREL achieves the world's most accurate method to measure PV performance, with an uncertainty rate of only 1.1%.
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Last Updated May 5, 2025